Meditations on ƒ’(x)≠0.

1. Meditations on ƒ’(x)≠0. Living with change.

2. A summary of changes in High School, Community College and University Mathematics Education. To the best of our knowledge…at the moment.

3. The Mystical, Magical World of the OSPI. That’s right. The BINGO’s gone, but the acronyms remain.

4. The Graduation Requirement. Three years of mathematics will be required for graduation, beginning with the class of 2013. The requirement can be met with Algebra II, an equivalent Career/Technical course, or an approved substitute.

5. As for the rest, please refer to the chart.

6. Materials Adoption. Making a long story short(er). When last we met, Washington had just adopted new K-12 standards in mathematics, and had begun an instructional materials review.

7. OSPI put together a team to review submitted programs, based mainly on a 70% alignment to the revised standards. The team results were then presented to the State Board of Education(SBE). The SBE had an independent review team review the top 4 sets of materials. The review team found that only Holt was mathematically sound. The superintendent accepted the findings and Holt is the recommended text.

8. Testing. Testing? Testing! To WASL or not to WASL? WASL! For now. Sort of. This year’s test is kind of a modified WASL. Along with other changes, it will be shorter, given later in the year, and have a different name (High School Proficiency Exam).

9. Starting in 2010-11, the HSPE exam will be replaced by end-of-course assessments (EOCs). EOC I will cover Algebra I or Mathematics I. EOC II will cover Geometry or Mathematics II. HSPE will continue to be offered as a retake.

10. It is clear that the class of 2013 must pass something.

11. Anything to share from the local folks?

12. The Wondrous, Reclusive and often Misunderstood World of Community Colleges. It’s true. We often confuse ourselves.

13. Testing? Of Course! Kind of. This test would have a common score, such that a student achieving this score would be guaranteed access to a college level Math course at every public postsecondary institution in the state. The State Legislature mandated that UW work with TMP to create a version of the MPT that would serve as a indicator of college readiness in Mathematics.

14. The deed is done. The test has been written and piloted. A common cut score has been set (17) and official implementation will likely be Fall 2010. Small technicality. No one is actually required to give the thing.

15. An Interesting Proposal. Four-year schools have admission requirements in Mathematics. Community Colleges do not. The admission requirement is met by having CC students meet a proficiency requirement in Intermediate Algebra as part of their 2-year transfer degree. Remedial programs are built around this requirement.

16. The Community Colleges have asked that the content of remedial math curriculums fall to the local colleges. The initial response from the 4-year schools is sure, as long as every student is required to take a college level Math course as part of the 2-year degree.

17. That 2-part proposal is currently being discussed at the state level by 2 and 4-year schools. The decision is scheduled to be made this spring.

18. Updates from SFCC A New Remedial Curriculum. A New Placement Process, with Better alignment between the test and the curriculum. Placement by high school transcript.

19. Updates from SCC Brought to you by Shelley Wogman.

20. The Big Finish. Brought to you by Dr. Ron Dalla.

21. Anything to share from the local folks?